Wilmington News & Blogs

Dawson's Creek Facts

Posted on July 23, 2018

Dawson's Creek ran for six successful seasons and was filmed right here, in the Wilmington area. A trip to Wilmington allows fans to explore "Capeside," the fictitious town the show was based upon. Retrace the steps of James Van Der Beek, Katie Holmes, Michelle Williams and Joshua Jackson with a walking tour of Dawson's Creek locations on your next trip to Wilmington.

Dawson's Creek, Sony Pictures Television’s popular hour-long drama that aired on The WB, is among the many productions made in this region. Filmed in historic Wilmington and nearby island beaches Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach and Kure Beach along with Southport, North Carolina, "Dawson's Creek" chronicles with wry humor the undeniably intense period of awakening known as the teenage years. A startlingly fresh and realistic portrayal of this passage from adolescence to young adulthood, "Dawson's Creek" wrapped its sixth and final season in 2003. On the show, the Wilmington region doubles as “Capeside,” a coastal town in Massachusetts.

Tour "Dawson's Creek" Locations

As you explore the Wilmington area you'll recognize "Hell's Kitchen," "Screen Play Video," and "Capeside High School" among other famous places. To take a self-guided tour of Dawson's Creek filming locations, view our locations tour map. Visitors can also experience Wilmington’s film history via a guided walking tour of downtown movie locations. The Hollywood Location Walk of Old Wilmington includes some of the locations used in One Tree Hill and Dawson's Creek and other films and TV shows, including more recent productions.

Dawson's Creek wrapped its final season in April 2003. The original sets are no longer in use or available to the public. EUE/Screen Gems Studios, the largest production facility east of Hollywood, still hosts visiting productions.

The show was created by NC native Kevin Williamson (Scream; Scream II; I Know What You Did Last Summer;Teaching Mrs. Tingle).Dawson's Creek is loosely based on Williamson's real-life experiences growing up in rural North Carolina. Fans of Dawson's Creek can watch the show and see familiar sights of Wilmington and the island beaches when it airs on television. The series is now available on DVD and lives on in syndication. Paul Stupin, Tom Kapinos and Greg Prange were executive producers of Dawson's Creek for Sony Pictures Television.

How can I be an extra on a TV show or movie?

Since 1983, more than 400 film-related projects have been filmed in Wilmington, North Carolina’s River District and the island beaches of Carolina Beach, Kure Beach and Wrightsville beach. The region is often affectionately referred to as “Hollywood East.”

Several Wilmington-based casting companies casts extras for local productions. If you’re interested in being an extra or have other questions about film production in Wilmington, please check the Wilmington Film Office website Frequently Asked Questions page. Before visitors travel any distance to be an extra they are encouraged to check the website and contact casting companies directly to find out about casting needs and employment requirements.

For recent production information, visit our Hollywood East page. For more info about Wilmington, NC’s River District and island beaches (where Dawson's Creek was filmed) please call 1-866-266-9690, or stop by the year-round Visitor Information Center located at 505 Nutt Street, Unit A, in downtown Wilmington, or the Riverfront Visitors Booth (April-October) at the foot of Market Street.